Robber arrested at checkpoint

CEBU, Philippines - Police arrested a suspected robber after a gun and packs of shabu were seized from him during a checkpoint in Barangay San Isidro, San Fernando town on Friday afternoon.

The suspect was identified as Marvic “Pahak” Cantil, 30, of Barangay Panadtaran, who is believed to be responsible for the series of robbery incidents involving sales agents in the town and in the nearby Carcar City.

San Fernando Police personnel confiscated from the suspect a cal. 45 pistol and two medium-size packs of suspected shabu.

According to Chief Inspector Sara Jane Recla, the station chief, her personnel were conducting checkpoint along Barangay San Isidro when Cantil passed by at past 3 p.m. and was flagged down for inspection.

The police reportedly noticed an object bulging on Cantil’s side and asked the latter to raise his shirt. They saw the gun, hence to the suspect’s arrest.

The police then searched the suspect and further found the packs of shabu in his pocket.

The suspect was brought to the police station and is now detained.

Some robbery victims proceeded to the police station after hearing a robber’s arrest and two of them identified Cantil as the one who earlier robbed them.

Another victim, Carcar City based businessman Sphere Varga, also identified the suspect as one of the two armed men who robbed him last Wednesday of his P50,000 cash.

During the investigation, the suspect admitted being a robber and even confessed the name of his alleged cohort.

The police went to a mountain barangay in Carcar City to invite the said cohort of Cantil for questioning. However the police were not convinced that he was engaged in the robbery, so he was released.

The suspect will face charges for violation of the Comprehensive Dangerous Drugs Act, Comprehensive Firearms and Ammunition Regulation Act, and for robbery.  (FREEMAN)